In a letter to residents, leaked to the M.E.N, Guinness say they have been assessing the work required to improve the block.

But add: "This would be extensive, and cover individual homes, the common areas, and outside of the building. It would take a long time to complete and the level of disruption for you would be significant.

"Given the age and nature of the building it is also likely that further work would be needed in future to maintain it, and this is likely to cause further disruption and inconvenience to anyone living there."

The letter proposes instead offering the residents an alternative home in Salford.

Each household relocated as a result of the plan will be eligible to a statutory home loss payment of £6,300.

Guinness say each household will also get an additional disturbance payment to cover removal costs and reconnection of appliances.

The Manchester Evening News asked over 25 residents on the block, none of whom knew of the plans to demolish the building until this afternoon.

Known as the Orchards, they were built in the 1960s as part of the Hanky Park slum clearance project (Image: STEVE ALLEN)

Sam Flemming, who has lived in the block for twenty years said: "We've not heard anything, they won't tell us.

"I will be happy to get out. I've been here 20 years. But they've not told us anything. I suppose they don't want people to be leaving before the end, otherwise they will lose rent - it's money isn't it"

"I would rather move now if we have the opportunity - just to get out I'd be happy, to go somewhere nicer - there's too much concrete here.

"The building is not great. With my heaters, I don't think one even works. I put it on for two days and nothing came out of it. The bathrooms are a mess and it's freezing cold here because there is no insulation.

"I'd be happy to get out of here. You get a very vague promise that they will do something to fix it, but really nothing. There are no letters, no phone calls, nothing to say this is going to start then.

"The minute you move into this place you're in arrears. You're getting letters saying you owe them money. At the moment I pay about £97 a week.

"They have to move us to another property, it's law isn't it? They have to follow some rules.

"If it is being knocked down I will be happy to leave. I'm happy to go. It will be the push some people need to get out of the rut staying here.

"They don't want people to leave too soon and miss out on rent. They want to squeeze every penny out of you that they can get."

Andy Lea, who was with his sister who was visiting his flat said: "The landlords are useless and haven't told us anything. One of my neighbours tried to get it out of them what was going to happen but they were evasive and saying it was just a consultation.

"They have been talking about works for a year and a half, maybe two years. It become clear something was going on when this was the only block that had not been done up.

"Inside the bathrooms don't have showers and the heaters get on your chest. I'm really excited to move, I'm getting a new house and a new car (with the money promised to residents). I don't like the area."

Kevin, who has lived at Cherry Tree Court for nine years used to pay up to £500 a month in rent until the Guinness trust reduced it after getting rid of security guards on the front desks.

"If it is being knocked down I will be happy to leave. I'm happy to go. It will be the push some people need to get out of the rut staying here" (Image: STEVE ALLEN)

He said: "A couple of weeks ago I heard from a caretaker that they were planning to knock it down but I've not heard anything more."

"With the state it's in, you'd need to blow it up."

One resident who lives in Clementine Court, which is directly opposite Cherry Tree Court and is still owned by the Guinness was very surprised to hear that the building was being demolished, and said he hadn't received any letters despite the fact that he would definitely be disturbed by the demolition works.

He didn't want to give his name as he was worried about his position as a tenant.

Another resident said they were told a few months ago that the windows and cladding would be done, but they hadn't heard anything since and was very shocked to hear the building would be demolished.

What residents have been told by The Guinness Partnership

The letter to residents, from John Cockerham, Director of Customer Service Operations, says: "If this proposal goes ahead, once everyone has moved out we would demolish Cherry Tree Court as part of a wider programme of work, to provide additional new build affordable homes across Salford.

"We understand that moving to a new home would be a big change for you so we would work with you individually to understand your needs, help find you the right new home and offer you the right support through the process."

Guinness, who took over the management of Cherry Tree in 1995, say they have good quality homes available in Salford - some close to the block.

"We also have homes in other areas that might interest you, but unless you express a preference to move away from the area we will work to find a new home for you in Salford. We will be as flexible as we can to find you a home that meets your assessed housing needs. We will do everything we can to minimise the inconvenience to you, if this proposal goes ahead," says the letter.

No final decision will be made until the views of residents have been heard. Consultation will end on March 25.

A drop-in session for residents to express their views is being held between 12 noon and 7pm on February 18 in a community room at the block.

The building is in urgent need of improvement in a district which has seen massive regeneration in recent years with new town houses and a major revamp of nine other tower blocks managed by Pendleton Together.

It is made up of 32 one-bed and 64 two-bed flats.

A spokesperson for The Guinness Partnership said: “We want to make sure all our customers have high-quality homes and in the case of Cherry Tree Court this would mean extensive work, causing significant disruption and inconvenience over a long period of time.

"As a result we are consulting residents at Cherry Tree Court about finding them high-quality alternative homes in Salford which meet their individual needs and then demolishing the building.

“We understand that moving to a new home would be a big change for our residents and we would do everything we can to support them. We would help them to find a new Guinness home and offer individual support throughout the process. This would include a statutory home loss payment of £6,300 and help with moving.

"We want customers to be reassured that we will listen to their feedback, and will do all we can to make this process as smooth and as stress-free as possible.”

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